In May 1855, the Smithsonian bought a “Standard Barometer” from John Frederick Newman for $129.42 (or, £20 plus packing). This is that instrument. Marked “I. Newman, 122 Regent Street, London,” it was ...

For many in the tech arena, the iPhone has been, and likely always will be, the gold standard for handheld mobile devices. The smartphones were the very definition of "game changer" when they debuted ...

Lum Woodruff, a resident of Ann Arbor, Michigan, who reported weather observations to the Smithsonian Institution, patented a portable barometer that proved to be extremely popular. Its key feature ...